Camera with mounting rail

ABSTRACT

A camera includes a housing, a camera lens, a video camera recorder, a display, and a mounting rail. The housing is elongated and sealed. The camera lens is located at a front end of the housing. The video camera recorder is located within the housing for recording images captured by the camera lens. The display is configured for viewing the recorded images. The mounting rail extends along an exterior surface of the housing and mounts the camera to the weapon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/804,548 filed Mar. 18, 2004, titled “Camera Lens and Display”, whichis a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/179,603 filed Jun. 25,2002, titled “Video Camera Recorder”, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,006,144, whichis a division of application of Ser. No. 09/264,587 filed Mar. 8, 1999,titled “Game Hunting Video Camera”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,556,245.

BACKGROUND

A motion picture camera attached to the barrel of a rife is disclosed inthe U.S. Pat. No. 3,427,102 (Wade). This invention is cumbersome to useand is only designed to be attached to an elongated barrel of a firearm.Moreover, its use requires the operator to physically change thestructure of the firearm.

A gun mounted video camera is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,621(Black). This patent discloses a device that looks like a rifle but isreally just a video camera recording device.

Video cameras mounted to firearms with head mounted video displays aredisclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,966 (Hanson),U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,137 (Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,589 (Hanson), U.S.Pat. No. 5,005,213 (Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,827 (Hanson), U.S. Pat.No. 5,711,104 (Schmitz). A similar invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,834,676 (Elliot). These patents relate to using a video camera totransmit a video signal to a head mounted video display for aimingpurposes and are generally designed for military or police purposes notfor recording game hunting.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention is a camera for mounting to aweapon. The camera includes a housing, a camera lens, a video camerarecorder, a display, and a mounting rail. The housing is elongated andsealed. The camera lens is located at a front end of the housing. Thevideo camera recorder is located within the housing for recording imagescaptured by the camera lens. The display is configured for viewing therecorded images. The mounting rail extends along an exterior surface ofthe housing and mounts the camera to the weapon.

In another embodiment, the camera includes a housing, a mounting rail, acamera lens, a video camera recorder, and a liquid crystal display. Thehousing is elongated, sealed, and has both a front end and a rear end.The mounting rail extends along the housing from the front end towardthe rear end. The mounting rail mounts the camera to the weapon. Thecamera lens is located at the front end of the housing. The video camerarecorder is located within the housing and is positioned to receiveimages from the camera lens. The liquid crystal display connected to thevideo camera recorder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The forgoing and other features and advantages will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the specification and the followingillustrations of the preferred embodiments in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts throughout the several views. Referring tothe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the game huntingvideo camera in its non-operational mode.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the game huntingvideo camera in its operational mode.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first embodiment of the game hunting videocamera in its operational mode.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the game hunting camerain its operational mode.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment illustrating howthe cassette drive and battery are accessed.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional representation of the components of thegame hunting video camera.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the circuit that controls the videorecorder and the liquid crystal display in the first embodiment of thegame hunting video camera.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment of the game hunting videocamera in its non-operation mode.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera illustrating how the LCD housing member moves.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera in its operational mode.

FIG. 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the second embodimentof the game hunting video camera illustrating the mechanism thatcontrols LCD housing member.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the mechanism that controls the movementof the LCD housing member for the second embodiment of the game huntingvideo camera.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view illustrating the bracket mount system.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating how the video camera ismounted on a barrel of a firearm.

FIG. 15 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the components of themount system.

FIG. 16 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the mount system locked inplace.

FIG. 17 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the mount system beingreleased by the quick release buttons.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the gamehunting video camera mounted on a barrel of a firearm.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the gamehunting video camera mounted on a bow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A first embodiment of the game hunting video camera, in itsnon-operational mode, is illustrated in FIG. 1. The video camera isshown having a main camera body 10, a camera weather cover 12, a camerabase 16, a liquid crystal display housing member 18, a liquid crystaldisplay weather shield 20, a camera mount member 14, a zoom in button 22and a zoom out button 24. The video camera in its operational mode isillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the front side of the camerabase 16. The front side of the camera base 16 contains the lens 26 ofthe camera, a circular recess portion 34, a front facing microphone 28for recording the sounds produced by the game and normally closed SPDTpush button camera record switch 30 that turns the video camera on andoff.

A liquid crystal display housing member 18 is attached by hinges 11 tothe camera base 16. When the video camera is in its non-operationaltransportation mode, the liquid crystal display housing member 18 isrotated on its hinges 11 so it is in front of the camera base 10 asillustrated in FIG. 1. When the liquid crystal display housing member 18is in this position the normally closed camera record switch 30 is openand the video camera is off. The liquid crystal display housing member18 is held in this position by a protruding circular semi pliable seal32 that has one side solidly connected to the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The other side of thecircular semi pliable seal 32 is tightly received in the circular recess34 located in front of the camera base 16. This seal connection not onlykeeps the liquid crystal display housing member 18 in thenon-operational position, it also protects the lens 26 when the videocamera is turned off. This is an important feature because the videocamera is likely to be exposed to harsh environments as a hunter pursueshis or her game. My design not only protects the lens 26 from scratches,as the hunter makes his or her way through the woods or brush, it alsoprotects the lens from weather conditions.

When the hunter sees game he or she simply rotates the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 about its hinges 11. This action closes thecamera record switch 30 completing the circuit that starts the videocamera recording. The ease and speed in which the video camera isstarted is very important in a hunting situation because a hunter maynot have much time to react when the game is sighted. My designminimizes the time needed to get the video camera recording. Inaddition, the hinges 11 are tightly bound so that the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 is put in a position by the operator it willstay there until the operator once again acts upon it.

The back side of the camera base 16 and the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 is illustrated in FIG. 4. A rear microphone 19 isplaced on the back side of the camera base 16 for recording the soundsproduced by the hunter. The back side of the camera base 16 also has anindicator light 23 that lights up when the video camera is recording. Aliquid crystal display 36 is encased in the back side of the liquidcrystal display housing member 18. The operation controls of the cameraare also placed in the back side of the liquid crystal display housingmember 18 around the liquid crystal display 36. The operating controlsare common in the art of video cameras and may include the following: amenu control 38, a liquid crystal display brightness control 39, aspeaker control 40, an on/off record switch 42, a play control 44, asearch control 46, a menu select dial 48, a battery charge connect port50, a s-video terminal 52, a audio out port 54 and a video out port 56.

A weather shield is connected by pivots 27 on the back side of theliquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Theliquid crystal display 36 is activated when the liquid crystal displayweather shield 20 is rotated in an upward direction. This action closesthe normally closed SPST push button liquid crystal display switch 25activating the liquid crystal display 36. Besides controlling the liquidcrystal display switch 25 the liquid crystal display weather shieldsalso shields the liquid crystal display 36 from the weather. Inaddition, the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 has a liquidcrystal display weather shield tab portion 21 that protrudes out beyondthe body of the liquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustratedin FIG. 3. This tab portion allows the hunter to quickly flip the liquidcrystal display weather shield 20 up to activate the liquid crystaldisplay 36. The pivots 27 are also tightly bound so that when theoperator puts the weather shield in a position it will remain thereuntil the operator once again acts upon it.

The circuit that turns the video recorder and the liquid crystal display36 on and off is an important feature of my invention and is illustratedin FIG. 7. A simplified circuit is shown having a battery source 60, avideo recorder portion, a liquid crystal display portion, a relay 68,the camera record switch 30, the on/off record switch 42, the liquidcrystal display switch 25, an upper wire 72 and a lower wire 74. Thecircuit is shown, having the liquid crystal display housing member 18rotated in front of, and attached to, the camera base 16. Accordingly,the normally closed camera recorder switch 30 is in its open position71. The circuit is also shown having the on/off switch 42 in its openposition 75. If this situation occurs, the relay 68 automatically actson the on/off record switch 42 switching it to the closed position 77.This ensures that every time the liquid crystal display housing memberis rotated to the camera's operational position, the camera startsrecording automatically. The operator will not have to waste timemanually pushing the on/off record switch 42 on the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 to get it in the right position. When thecamera recorder switch 30 is in its closed position 73 and the on/offrecord switch 42 in its closed position 77, the circuit is complete andthe video camera starts recording. The liquid crystal display 36 isturned on when the liquid crystal display switch 25 is closed. Thisoccurs when the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 is flipped up.

The video camera has a cylindrical weather cover 12 that screws onto themain camera base 10. This is illustrated in FIG. 5. As the weather cover12 is screwed onto the main camera body 10 it comes in contact with arubber ring 41 thereby sealing the internal components from the weather.The weather cover 12 also provides easy access to the cassette holder 58and the battery 60. The operator simply has to unscrew the weather cover12 to put in a video cassette or replace the battery 60. The main camerabody 10 is also cylindrical in shape and houses the main components of astandard analog or digital video camera recorder known in the art. Thesecomponents are illustrated in FIG. 6.

A second embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 8. Instead of the operatormanually moving the liquid crystal display housing member 18 and theliquid crystal display weather shield 20 to activate the video recorderand the liquid crystal display 36 respectively, this embodiment useselectronic switches. FIG. 8 illustrates the video camera in thenon-operational mode. In addition to the zoom in button 22 and the zoomout button 24, the main camera body 10 also has an on/off button 76.When the on/off button 76 is activated the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 slides out from the camera base 16 as illustrated inFIG. 9. As in the first embodiment, the liquid crystal display housingmember 18 covers and protects the lens 26 when the camera is in itsnon-operational mode. When the liquid crystal display housing member 18is fully extended, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the camera automaticallystarts recording and the liquid crystal display 36 is activated.

This embodiment has a remote port hookup 86 on the camera base 16. Aremote pad 78 having a zoom in the button 80, a zoom out button 82 andan on/off button 84 can be attached to the remote port hookup 86, theremote pad 78 becomes operational. This design allows the operator toplace the camera controls in a convenient location for optimalefficiency, like the forearm 100 of a firearm or the riser 104 of a bow.

Although, there are equivalent ways, common in the art, to control themovement of the liquid crystal display housing member 18, my preferredmethod is illustrated in FIG. 11. The liquid crystal display housingmotor 81 has threaded shaft 83. The liquid crystal display housingmember 18 has an internally threaded insert 85 that is threadablyengaged with the threaded shaft 83 of the liquid crystal display housingmotor 81. An “H” switch circuit controls the direction that the threadedshaft rotates. When the threaded shaft 83 rotates clockwise the liquidcrystal display housing member 18 sides into the camera base 16. Whenthe threaded shaft 83 rotates counter clockwise the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 sides out of the camera base 16. The use ofthis system is common in the art and an example of an “H” switch circuitcan be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,454 issued to Valentine entitledMosfet “H” Switch Circuit for a DC motor. In addition, a block diagramof the system is illustrated in FIG. 12.

A bracket that mounts to a weapon is illustrated in FIG. 13. The uppermount member 91 has a number of screw holes 97. The lower mount member92 has the same number of threaded screw holes 99. A foam rubber insert93 covers the inner surface of the upper mount member 91 and the innersurface of the lower mount member 92 to protect the surface of what themounting bracket is being mounted to. The bracket mounted to a barrel 98of a firearm is illustrated in FIG. 14. The upper mount member 91 isplaced over the top of the barrel 98 of the firearm. The lower mountmember 92 is placed under the barrel 98. The screw holes 97 in the uppermount member 91 are then lined up with the threaded screw holes 99 inthe lower mount member 92, securing the mounting bracket to the weapon.In addition, the thickness of the foam rubber insert 93 can be changedto accommodate different size barrels 98.

As FIG. 14. illustrates, the video camera is attached to the mountingbracket by sliding the camera mount member 14 into the track of thelower mount member 92. When the camera mount member 14 is positioned farenough into the track of the lower mount member 92 it is locked intoplace. This is to ensure that the camera will not inadvertently fall offthe weapon. The mechanism that locks the camera into place isillustrated in FIGS. 15, 16 & 17. A pair of biasing springs 107 areinserted into cavities 111 in the camera mount member 14. A pair offastening buttons 105 are then inserted into the cavities 111 engagingthe biasing springs 107. The fastening buttons 105 are held in place bya pair of camera mount member plates 103. The camera mount member plates103 have circular holes that allow the fastening buttons 105 to protrudethrough them from the force of the biasing spring 107. The camera mountmember plates 103 are secured by the camera mount plate screws 101 beingscrewed into the threaded holes 109 in the camera mount member 14.

A pair of release push buttons 115 are inserted into the push buttoncavities 116 in the lower mount member 92. The release push buttons 115are held in place by the mount member plates 114. The mount memberplates 114 are secured to the lower mount member 92 by the mount memberplates screws 113 being screwed into the threaded screw holes 117. Themount member plates 114 have circular holes in them that are largeenough for the fastening buttons 105 to fit through.

FIG. 16 illustrates how the camera mount member 14 locks into place withthe lower mount member 92. As the camera mount member 14 slides alongthe track in the lower mount member 92, the biasing springs 107 assertan outward pressure on the fasting buttons 105. When the fasting buttons105 encounter the holes in the mount member plates 114 they are forcedinto them. This action locks the video camera on the mount system. Toremove the camera the operator simply presses in on the release pushbuttons 115. This action forces the fastening buttons 105 out of theholes in the mount member plates 114. This illustrated in FIG. 17. Thecamera will then slide off the mount effortlessly. Having this simplemethod of removing the camera is important to the invention because itallows, without undue delay, the use of the camera without it beingattached to a weapon.

The first embodiment of the video camera mounted to the barrel 98 of afirearm is illustrated in FIG. 18. The firearm is shown having a barrel98 and a forearm 100. One reason for the cylindrical design of thecamera body is so it is natural for the operator to use the body of thevideo camera as he or she would the forearm 100 of the firearm. If theoperator does this, his or her thumb will be in a natural position tooperate the zoom in button 22 and the zoom out button 24 with littleeffort or movement. In addition, the remote pad 78 in my secondembodiment can be attached to the forearm 100 of the firearm by Velcro,or by some similar fashion, for ease of operation.

The first embodiment of the video camera mounted to a bow is illustratedin FIG. 19. The bow is shown having a riser 104, a flexible bow element106, a cable guard 110, bow string 112, an internally threaded metalinsert 108 is shown having the counter weight bar 102 threadablyattached. A counter weight bar 102 is used to stabilize the bow when thebow string 112 is drawn back. The mounting bracket is attached to thecounter weight bar 102 the same way it is attached to the barrel 98 of afirearm. In addition, the thickness of the foam rubber insert 93 in themounting bracket can be changed to accommodate the diameter of thecounter weight bar 102. Moreover, the remote pad 78 in my secondembodiment can be attached to the riser 104 of the bow by Velcro, or bysome similar fashion, for ease of operation.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment(s), it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situationor material to the teachings of the invention without departing from theessential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the inventionnot be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed, but that theinvention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of theappended claims.

1. A camera for mounting to a weapon, the camera comprising: anelongated sealed housing; a camera lens located at a front end of thehousing; a video camera recorder located within the housing forrecording images captured by the camera lens; a battery compartmentlocated within the housing and connected to the video camera recorder; adisplay for viewing the recorded images; and a mounting rail extendingalong an exterior surface of the housing for mounting the camera to theweapon, such that a hunter can operate the camera while hunting with theweapon.
 2. The camera of claim 1, further comprising: buttons located onthe housing for controlling operation of the video camera recorder. 3.The camera of claim 1, further comprising: a microphone attached to thehousing and connected to the video camera recorder.
 4. The camera ofclaim 1, further comprising: a battery located in the batterycompartment for providing power to the video camera recorder.
 5. Thecamera of claim 1, further comprising: a removable storage device forstoring images captured by the video camera recorder.
 6. The camera ofclaim 5, wherein the video camera recorder includes a holder for theremovable video storage device.
 7. The camera of claim 1, furthercomprising: at least one port for connecting the video camera recorderto an external device.
 8. The camera of claim 1, wherein the videocamera recorder comprises a digital video camera recorder.
 9. The cameraof claim 1, wherein the housing is plastic.
 10. A camera for mounting toa functional weapon, the camera comprising: an elongated sealed housinghaving a front end and a rear end; a mounting rail extending along thehousing from the front end toward the rear end, the mounting rail formounting the camera to the functional weapon; a camera lens located atthe front end of the housing; a video camera recorder located within thehousing and positioned to receive images from the camera lens; a batterycompartment located within the elongated sealed housing and connected tothe video camera recorder; and a liquid crystal display connected to thevideo camera recorder.
 11. The camera of claim 10, further comprising:buttons for controlling operation of the video camera recorder locatedon an exterior surface of the housing.
 12. The camera of claim 10,further comprising: a microphone for receiving sound located on anexterior surface of the housing.
 13. The camera of claim 10, furthercomprising: a holder for a removable video storage device located withinthe housing and connected to the video camera.
 14. The camera of claim10, further comprising: at least one port for connecting the videocamera recorder to an external device.
 15. The camera of claim 10,wherein the video camera recorder comprises a digital video camerarecorder.
 16. The camera of claim 10, wherein the liquid crystal displayfaces a direction opposite the camera lens.
 17. The camera of claim 10,wherein the elongated sealed housing comprises a camera body attached toa weather cover, the weather cover providing access to the batterycompartment.
 18. The camera of claim 17, wherein the weather cover isconnected to a rear end of the camera body by a threaded connection.